Modulation by both diphenyliodonium and diphenyleneiodonium of [3H]MK-801 binding to rat brain synaptic membranes

Diphenyleneiodonium induces ROS-independent p53 expression and apoptosis in human RPE cells

The diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) is widely used as an inhibitor of flavoenzymes, particularly NADPH oxidase. In this study, we investigated the effect of DPI on the apoptosis of human RPE cells. DPI treatment in ARPE-19 cells evoked a dose- and time-dependent growth inhibition, and also induced DNA fragmentation and protein content of the proapoptotic factor Bax. In addition, DPI significantly induced the expression and phosphorylation of p53, which induces proapoptotic genes in response to DNA damage or irreparable cell cycle arrest. ROS have been implicated as a key factor in the activation of p53 by many chemotherapeutic drugs. Recent data on the regulation of intracellular ROS by DPI are controversial. Therefore, we analyzed whether DPI could contribute to the generation of intracellular ROS. Although there was increase in ROS level from cells treated for 24h with DPI, it was not detectable at early time points, required to induce p53 expression. And DPI-induced p53 expression was not affected by the ROS scavenger NAC. We conclude that DPI induces the expression of p53 by ROS-independent mechanism in ARPE-19 cells, and renders cells sensitive to drug-induced apoptosis by induction of p53 expression.

Diphenyleneiodonium inhibits the cell redox metabolism and induces oxidative stress

Diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) and the structurally related compound diphenyliodonium (DIP) are widely used as inhibitors of flavoenzymes, particularly NADPH oxidase. Here we report further evidence that DPI and DIP are not specific flavin binders. A 3-h incubation of N11 glial cells with DPI significantly inhibited in a dose-dependent way both the pentose phosphate pathway and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. In parallel, we observed a dose-dependent increase of reactive oxygen species generation and lipoperoxidation and increased leakage of lactate dehydrogenase activity in the extracellular medium. The glutathione/glutathione disulfide ratio decreased, whereas the efflux of glutathione out of the cells increased. This suggests that DPI causes an augmented oxidative stress and exerts a cytotoxic effect in N11 cells. Indeed, the cells were protected from these events when loaded with glutathione. Similar results were observed using DIP instead of DPI and also in other cell types. We suggest that the DPI-elicited inhibition of the pentose phosphate pathway and tricarboxylic acid cycle may be mediated by the blockade of several NAD(P)-dependent enzymes, such as glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and lactate dehydrogenase. In light of these results, we think that some effects of DPI or DIP in in vitro and in vivo experimental models should be interpreted with caution.

Differential inhibition by ferrous ions of [3H]MK-801 binding to native N-methyl-D-aspartate channel in neonatal and adult rat brains

In vitro addition or pretreatment with >/=1 microM ferrous chloride markedly inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner [3H]dizocilpine (MK-801) binding to an open ion channel associated with the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor in rat brain synaptic membranes. The addition of NMDA agonists invariably attenuated the inhibition of [3H]MK-801 binding in hippocampal synaptic membranes previously treated with ferrous chloride, without significantly affecting that in cerebellar synaptic membranes. In the absence of spermidine, ferrous chloride was more potent in inhibiting binding in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus in adult rats than in those in rats at 3 days after birth, while in the striatum [3H]MK-801 binding was 10 times more sensitive to inhibition by added ferrous chloride in neonatal rats than in adult rats. Addition of spermidine significantly attenuated the potency of ferrous chloride to inhibit binding in the cerebral cortex of adult rats, with facilitation of the inhibition in newborn rats. Moreover, spermidine significantly reduced the inhibitory potency of ferrous chloride in neonatal rat striatum, without markedly affecting that in adult rat striatum. These results suggest that ferrous ions may interfere with opening processes of the native NMDA channel through molecular mechanisms peculiar to neuronal development in a manner associated with the polyamine recognition domain.

Nitric oxide-independent inhibition by sodium nitroprusside of the native N-methyl-D-aspartate recognition domain in a manner different from that by potassium ferrocyanide

Binding of [3H](+)-5-methyl-10,11 -dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine (MK-801) was significantly inhibited by the addition of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide (NO) donor, at a concentration range of 0.1 microM to 0.1 mM in rat brain synaptic membranes. On the contrary, two other NO donors, S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine and S-nitroso-L-glutathione, did not inhibit binding even at 0.1 mM. Similarly potent inhibition of [3H]MK-801 binding was caused by the addition of potassium ferrocyanide, while potassium ferricyanide induced slight inhibition of binding at 0.1 mM. Both SNP and potassium ferrocyanide markedly inhibited binding of [3H]glutamic (Glu) and [3H]D,L-(E)-2-amino-4-propyl-5-phosphono-3-pentenoic acids, without significantly affecting that of [3H]glycine and [3H]5,7-dichlorokynurenic acid. Further addition of Glu significantly exacerbated the inhibition by both SNP and potassium ferrocyanide at concentrations of 1-10 microM. Potent inhibition was also induced for [3H]MK-801 binding by the treatment of synaptic membranes with either SNP or potassium ferrocyanide, followed by efficient washing which also inhibited [3H]MK-801 binding due to removal of endogenous agonists. By contrast, dithiothreitol clearly differentiated between inhibitory properties of SNP and potassium ferrocyanide on [3H]MK-801 binding in terms of reversibility of the inhibition following pretreatment and subsequent washing. These results suggest that SNP may interfere with opening processes of the native NMDA channel through molecular mechanisms different from those underlying the inhibition by potassium ferrocyanide at the NMDA recognition domain in a manner independent of the generation of NO radicals.